VIDEO
Trimper Accepts North Spur Petition, But Stands by Work

May 10, 2017 | 5:36 am

Labrador protesters presented government with a petition at Confederation Building yesterday calling for an independent review of the North Spur at Muskrat Falls.

Questions have been raised about the stability of the dam at Muskrat Falls, which is built on loosely packed soil known as quick clay. Residents are worried the dam could give out and destroy homes in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Mud Lake when the reservoir is flooded.

Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe, Innu Nation Grand Chief Anastasia Qupee, and NunatuKavut Community Council President Todd Russell met with government in October of last year to address the growing concerns with Muskrat Falls.

Angus Anderson, who’s originally from Nain, read the petition to the crowd and says it’s the people in Labrador government should be talking to. He says the wrong people were called in for the meeting with government. He says the leaders themselves have changed their tune since the meeting.

The petition, which has garnered more than 1,000 signatures, was presented to Minister Perry Trimper on the steps of Confederation Building. He says while the concerns are not new, government will take the petition into consideration and will continue to ensure the design of the North Spur is safe.

Council of Canadians member, Marilyn Reid, was at the rally yesterday and says it’s an important issue. She says there are considerable risks with the Muskrat Falls project that have not been addressed.

Preparations at North Spur “the result of 50 years of engineering work” says Nalcor

Minister Trimper says although there is still some contention with certain aspects of the project, government will continue to communicate with the people of Labrador. He says they’ve made progress since last fall with the project. He will continue to pay attention to the risks involved and act accordingly. Nalcor officials meanwhile, are providing information on the North Spur in light of the recent petition.

Representatives of the Lower Churchill Project say the stabilization design at the North Spur is the result of 50 years of engineering investigations and design work.

Nalcor says methods used to stabilize the North Spur, which is made up largely of “quick clay”, or soil that can liquefy when saturated, are well known and have been used in the past.